Concord Police Support Home Base

Concord Police Department to Participate in
“No-Shave November” Campaign to Support Veterans, Military Families
Funds raised will support Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation
and Massachusetts General Hospital Program

This November, don’t be surprised if your local police officers look like they haven’t shaved in weeks. For the privilege of sporting facial hair, officers from Concord Police Department are participating in No-Shave November in support of Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program.

Traditionally, police department grooming policies require officers to remain clean-shaven. However, for the month of November, officers from across the region will be permitted to grow beards and goatees when they donate or fundraise $100 for Home Base and support its mission to help veterans and military families heal from invisible wounds of war— such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury — regardless of their financial means or discharge status.

The No-Shave November movement is spearheaded by MBTA Transit officer, Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Kurt Power who sought care at Home Base. “The only wish I have is that we give the gift of hope to all the veterans who don’t believe reintegration is possible. Hope to the approximately 20 veterans a day that may give up tomorrow,” said Power. “If I can convince just one person who needs help to listen to me and put their trust in the treatment at Home Base, this will all be worth it.”

Kurt and his fellow first responders at Concord Police Department will go beyond the badge to not only help raise money for Home Base, a program that is widely recognized for changing the lives of veterans and their families, but to spark conversation, raise awareness and break the stigma associated with mental health care.

“We are happy to participate in this year’s First Responder No Shave November to support Home Base, Veterans and their families,” said Concord Police Chief Joseph O’Connor. “Home Base is providing outstanding services and I encourage community members to join us in supporting their work.”

To date, the first responder No-Shave November campaign has raised over $200,000 for Home Base. Concord Police Department is asking community members, business owners, family and friends to join the cause and donate.

For more information about Home Base and No-Shave November, visit https://homebase.org/no-shave-november/.

About Home Base: Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, is dedicated to healing the invisible wounds for Veterans, Service Members and their Families through world-class clinical care, wellness, education and research. As a National Center of Excellence, Home Base operates the largest private-sector clinic in the nation devoted to healing invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, depression, co-occurring substance use disorder, military sexual trauma and family relationship challenges. Since its inception, Home Base has served more than 15,000 Veterans and Family Members with care and support, trained more than 55,000 clinicians, educators and community members nationally and remains at the forefront of discovering new treatments– ensuring a brighter future for the 21st century Warrior and Military Family.

About Chief Joseph O'Connor

Chief Joseph O’Connor joined the Concord Police Department in June of 2014 after having served on the MBTA Transit Police Department with distinction from 1990-2014 and previously served as a police officer for the towns of Dennis and Winchester during his career. He rose through the ranks of the Transit Police, from Patrolman to Superintendent-in-Chief.
He holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Curry College. He is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police.